22 Replies

I have to assume, since you leave us little choice but to do so, that you have two routers both running DHCP, both with the same IP addresses, hooked into your modem some how at that same time?

I would suggest that you get the first router up and running correctly. Then add the second router by turning off DHCP and changing it's IP address to be offset by 1 number in the last octet of the IP address. (Router #1 - 192.168.1.1) (Router #2 - 192.168.1.2)

Unless of course your network has been segregated where router #1 is 192. and the second router is 10. or even 172.

I believe Will224 is on the right track. Check your broadcast channel selection on the LAN setup in each router and make sure they are on different broadcast channels. Also, you may want to check the PC you are testing with and make sure you can get out to the world wirelessly by turning one of the routers off one at a time first. ;)

I would set each at the opposite end of the available broadcast spectrum under your router's settings. Make sure you give them both unique SSID's as well, even if you are choosing to not broadcast SSID.

ok, looks like the ip addresses are ok, using se[parate channels. one channel separation is not enough. especially if the two access points are adjacent to each other. try to have AT LEAST 3 channels between, more if the systems are close to each other.

Check your DHCP server, SSID, security type. for testing start without security. if connectivity is established you know it has to do with security, if not, security is NOT ruled out yet but you have another problem thsat must be fixed first.

The client that has limited connectivity. what does it get from DHCP? gateway, subnet mask? is the ip in the range you expect? in the same subnet as the gateway?

Once you have wireless without security, turn the security on. create an SSID that is descriptive and a short key to start with. (you can secure it better when you get it running.)

Disable adaptive channel, unless all wireless routers/APs have this option. Adaptive channel chooses the best channel in the wireless environment. Disable SSID broadcast if you do not want anyone to see your network, otherwise leave it enabled. If SSID is enabled it will appear in the listing of wireless networks - "ABC Co. Wireless". If it is a guest netowrk it may be more convenient to enable SSID broadcasting and some security.

disabling the ssid bradcast only hides you from the honest folks. each client trying to connect to the hidden network resends the ssid repeatedly trying to see if the network is online. Just broadcast it and leave it at that.

What does your DNS say? real values? I had that one today where I could not get out and it was the DNS servers had been hardwired instead of accepting values from dhcp.

I need to ask some stupid questions here. I am trying to picture the whole layout, and it might be because I have only had a few hours of sleep. I am going with the assumption these are two wireless routers, and not wireless access points.

1) What type of Internet Connection is this? For some reason from your description, I am picturing like a cable or some other type of broadband connection. I am assuming some sort of static address is being used here.

2) If my assumption is correct in #1, are you using the router that came with the ISP's connection, in front of there two wireless routers, or are you using something else in between to hook these two routers together?

3) If you only hook one router at a time up, do either one of these routers completely work without doing anything special? They just connect and you can get out on wireless.

4) How many settings in each of the routers have you monkey'd with? If both routers are not working completely by themselves, I am inclined to tell you to reset both so we all know exactly where you are in this process, and can cleanly walk you back through it.

5) What brand and model are these two routers? Are they Linksys SOHO's or something?

Sorry - just figured I would get some more details before I started throwing darts too.

What I meant by both having the same static IPs are the Internet config setup - such as Internet IP, Gatewat, Subnet Mask, DNS

These numbers should not be the same on both routers. Either your ISP should give you a second static IP address and you can use that for your second network or your second network should be configured with your internal/private network information. Depending on how you have the routers physically wired together.

What I meant by both having the same static IPs are the Internet config setup - such as Internet IP, Gatewat, Subnet Mask, DNS

These numbers should not be the same on both routers. Either your ISP should give you a second static IP address and you can use that for your second network or your second network should be configured with your internal/private network information. Depending on how you have the routers physically wired together.

Both Routers do not have dhcp enabled -- we have fios at our office -- router one is our vpn\firewall router - router 2 is strictly set up as a subnet on our network and to be used for guest thats all.